Tumblins bring concerns to city council meeting
COSHOCTON – Beth Tumblin and her husband approached Coshocton City Council at their July 9 meeting in hopes of resolving an issue they have been dealing with since mid-May.
The Swayne Street residents are concerned about an overgrown lot in their neighborhood. Their first step in addressing the issue was to speak with the Coshocton City Health Department. Joe Garrett, director of environmental health, drove by the property and deemed it necessary to send the owner a letter.
Garrett gave the owner seven days to mow the property and the task was not completed even after being asked a second time. The Tumblins were told it would be too expensive for the city to mow the property so a compromise was made by having the owner clean up the property line. However, the Tumblins do not feel this satisfies the city’s ordinance on the issue or the concerns of themselves and their neighbors who attended the meeting.
“We’ve been in our home three years and now we are starting to have mice,” Beth said. “There are still 13 inches of grass out there (where it was cleaned up). This is not acceptable. We are asking that you please get it cleaned up for us.”
Mayor Steve Mercer responded by explaining that arbitrary decisions are made about lots based on where they are, but they will take a look at this one again.
Another one of the Tumblins’ neighbors then approached council and asked for an update on getting their street fixed.
“It will probably be the end of August before we get a start on any city street,” said Service Director Max Crown. “We will get yours done before the end of the year. Even if I have to take a wheel barrel up there myself we are going to patch that street.”
Todd Shroyer, director of Coshocton County EMS, also stopped by the meeting.
“I just wanted to keep a bit of a dialog going with the city and thought I would stop by every three or four months,” he said.
Mayor Mercer asked him if there were any updates on EMS’s renovation of the former Tribune building.
Shroyer said they have met with an architect and by late August or early September they will be asking for bids on the project.
A Sleepy Hollow Drive resident then stepped up the podium to ask council about the possibility of creating an ordinance for golf carts to be used in the city.
Councilman Brad Fuller asked that she get copies of ordinances from other communities and send them to him so they could look into the idea.
During his report Mayor Mercer shared that McDonald’s will start its demolition and rebuilding project sometime in August and that the city is working on developing two park settings. River Front Park across from the wastewater treatment plant has increased access to the river and will eventually have a shelter. Water Works Park at the base of the County Road 1A Bridge will get a shelter or a gazebo and be a spot for people to launch smaller boats on to the river.
“We are working on opening up more recreation opportunities and beautifying our city’s access to the river,” Mercer said.
During the meeting council also passed resolution 5-18 requesting certification of millage for a 5-year renewal tax levy in the City of Coshocton. The purpose of the levy is for general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads, and bridges including catch basins, sidewalks, curbs and matching funding for said purposes in the City of Coshocton.
A first reading also was given to ordinance 23-18, which authorizes the mayor or service director to sign all documents necessary for the city to purchase property at 1100 Walnut St., the former Peoples Bank branch building. The cost is $225,000 and the city plans to move the water billing office there.
Category: Government
